#04 Building On Hope: God's Comfort

Building On Hope: Lessons from the book of Job

Building on Hope is a set of lessons or play experiences outlining four themes found throughout the book of Job for use as a family or within children’s ministry. These themes explore God’s justice,God’s wisdom, God’s presence, and God’s comfort as building blocks for hope in times of trouble. The play theme for the curriculum uses LEGO to connect the narrative across the four lessons. Each session consists of a playtime where the child creates a "room"/scene related to the lesson, and with each successive lesson the rooms are stacked and added on top of one another. At the end of the four lessons, the child will have completed a four story high building which provide an object lesson on how we can build our hope in God when we face suffering and hurt.

Lesson Outline #4 God's Comfort

Key Point / Topic:

We are safe in the presence of God.

Key Verses:

“So how can you console me with your nonsense?Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!”- Job 21:34 NIV

After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.- Job 42:7 NIV

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.- Psalms 46:1 NIV

For Parents & Teachers

In the final chapter of the book, Job was found righteous, but his friends angered God because of what they say and thought about Job's suffering. They have wrongly judged Job, and instead of being a comfort to a hurting friend, they became a part of his suffering. As children encounter others who are hurting, we are to remind them the importance of being a good friend that comforts rather than dissecting their friend's pain. While we don't see the whole picture of our pain and suffering, we certainly can not see others. We are reminded that in times of trouble and hurt, God is our refuge and strength (Ps.46:1), and with that in mind, we can comfort others by pointing them toward the presence of God.

Story

Job 42:7-17 “Job’s friends were not very comforting.”

Activity:

What is a refuge? A refuge is a safe place; it is a place where we won't be harm or be in the way of danger. As we learned in the last lesson, being in the presence of God is the wisest thing we can do, but today's Bible verse in Psalm 46:1 also tells us that it is the safest place we can be. This is why we are building a castle room today because the castle is a strong structure and can protect us from danger, but it is also the place where the king lives! The castle also reminds us that it is a place not just for yourself, but it is also for others who are going through a rough time. If you know of someone who is hurting and suffering, we can comfort them by being a good friend that points them to God. We may not have all the right words or answers, but we know God’s presence can give us hope in times of trouble. Be a good friend that can comfort others, and not like Job’s friends who made him feel worse.

An example of a "room" base

The models shown are for concept only. Actual build and instructions can be simplified for age appropriateness. Add Minifigures for greater effects.